Ogle wins battle against Bloomquist for Volunteer Speedway Lucas Oil Late Model ‘Scorcher’ victory

Ogle wins battle against Bloomquist for Volunteer Speedway Lucas Oil Late Model ‘Scorcher’ victory

BULLS GAP, Tenn. (Aug. 23, 2012) — Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville has 14 track championships around East Tennessee to his credit, plus he recorded the 2009 Tennessee Thunder DirtCar Series and 2011 Southern All Star Racing Series titles.

Turning 48 years old last weekend, Ogle celebrated with a late birthday present Thursday night at Volunteer Speedway by capturing the biggest win of his career. Ogle out-dueled Scott Bloomquist before a packed house to win the ninth annual Scorcher presented by Reece Monument Co. and Patriot Mining for his first-ever Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory worth $10,000.

The 50-lap race went caution-free as Ogle and National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Bloomquist put on a dazzling display of driving talent. Bloomquist led the first 21 circuits of the race until Ogle made the pass on the bottom on the next lap. Ogle passed race leader Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN on lap 46 and went on to capture his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series win, worth $10,000.

Ogle, Bloomquist, and Don O’Neal of Martinsville, IN raced down to the wire in a tightly contested race.

Up until Thursday night, Ogle’s biggest win was a Hav-A-Tampa Series win in 1998 at Tazewell (TN) Speedway. “It feels great to win the ‘Scorcher,’ especially to beat Scott (Bloomquist) because he’s one of the all-time best. He got out in front, but I just bided my time and wanted to stay close to him and when he got behind the 41 car (Ty Dillon) I saw my chance and went for it,” said Ogle, who became the 12th different winner on the LOLMDS tour in 2012.

“Once I fell to second, I just wanted to stay right there with him (Bloomquist), and left the door open there and that was just enough for me, I still can’t believe I won this,” said Ogle, who pulled away from Bloomquist and O’Neal in the waning laps to score the win.

“I can’t thank my car owner Larry Garner enough for giving me the opportunity to drive his car. We have won three-in-a-row now and to beat the best in the business tonight, wow, I don’t know what to say. I want to thank my crew chief, David Bryant and all the crew, they did a great job with the car and I just drove it, the track was pretty good tonight and how about this crowd, this is so much fun.”

“I have to thank all of my sponsors, Massey Electric Company, Stowers Cat, Cherokee Millwright and Mechanical, GEO Services, Blount Excavating, and Grady and King Construction.” Ogle’s Rocket Chassis car is powered by a Custom Race Engine.

Trailing the top three of Ogle, Bloomquist and O’Neal to the line was Chris Madden of Gaffney, SC and 5-time Volunteer Speedway track champion, Vic Hill of Mosheim, TN.

Completing the top ten was Tyler Reddick of Corning, CA; Eric Wells of Hazard, KY; John Blankenship of Williamson, WV; Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN; and Steve Francis of Ashland, KY.

In his first ever super late model race, NASCAR’s Trevor Bayne looked poised to transfer into the feature, but his night ended early as he spun in Turn 2 with another car taking out his right front.

In preliminary action Scott Bloomquist set the Red Buck Cigars Fast Time amongst the 35 entrants, with a lap of 12.182 seconds. Billy Ogle Jr. set the fastest time in Group B with a time of 12.225 seconds. Scott Bloomquist, Chris Madden, Bill Ogle Jr., and Earl Pearson Jr. won their respective Heat Races. Chad Ogle and Steve Francis won their respective B-Mains.

Jamie Whitt jumped out to the lead over Dale Reed, Shannon Emery, Jon Cook and Austin Atkins at start of the Modified Hobby “Havoc 25.” The caution waved on lap 2 for a major track oil-down when both Mike Mays and Robbie Woods ran over debris from another car, busting the oil pan on their engines.

Another three-car incident between turns one and two involving Ray Jarnigan, Mike Kelly and Terry Dean slowed the action on lap 7.

Back under green flag racing conditions Whitt, Reed and Emery were battling for real estate all the way around the high-banked 4/10-mile oval. On several occasions the trio raced three-wide off the corners, while just behind them Cook and first-time visitor Atkins were having strong runs.

Reed’s hopes of victory ended just a couple of laps from the finish when he slowed and coasted into the pits.

The old saying “It’s not over until it’s over” definitely has meaning for Whitt, as he appeared headed to victory until running out of gas on the last lap between turns three and four, thus handing the win to Morristown’s Emery. Whitt managed coast to the checkers in second, followed by Cook, Charlie Bates and Jason Long.

VOLUNTEER SPEEDWAY – BULLS GAP, TN – LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES – “REECE MONUMENT/PATRIOT MINING SCORCHER 50”

Showing Finish Position, Starting Position In Parentheses, Driver Name, Car Number, Hometown, Winnings, Laps Completed In Parentheses

1. (2) Billy Ogle Jr. #201-Knoxville, TN $10,000 (50)
2. (1) Scott Bloomquist #0-Mooresburg, TN $5,500 (50)
3. (8) Don O’Neal #71-Martinsville, IN $3,500 (50)
4. (3) Chris Madden #44m-Gaffney, SC $2,750 (50)
5. (7) Vic Hill #1-Mosheim, TN $2,250 (50)
6. (5) Tyler Reddick #11-Corning, CA $1,800 (50)
7. (13) Eric Wells #18-Hazard, KY $1,500 (50)
8. (10) John Blankenship #23-Williamson, WV $1,300 (50)
9. (12) Jimmy Owens #20-Newport, TN $1,200 (50)
10. (18) Steve Francis #15-Ashland, KY $1,110 (50)
11. (23) Ray Cook #53-Brasstown, NC $1,075 (50)
12. (6) Brad Neat #41-Dunnville, KY $1,050 (50)
13. (14) Jared Landers #5-Batesville, AR $1,025 (50)
14. (4) Earl Pearson Jr. #44-Jacksonville, FL $1,000 (50)
15. (15) Ty Dillon #41-Lewisville, NC $950 (49)
16. (16) Tommy Kerr #4T-Maryville, TN $925 (49)
17. (24) Brett Miller #47-Greeneville, TN $900 (49)
18. (17) Chad Ogle #10-Sevierville, TN $875 (49)
19. (20) Jonathan Davenport #15d-Blairsville, GA $850 (49)
20. (11) Dale McDowell #17m-Chickmauga, GA $825 (47)
21. (9) Casey Roberts #101-Toccoa, GA $800 (35)
22. (22) Mark Vineyard #4v-Powell, TN $800 (14)
23. (19) Mark Douglas #52D-Knoxville, TN $800 (5)
24. (21) Jeff Maupin #0-Greeneville, TN $800 (5)

Entrants: 35
Lap Leaders: Scott Bloomquist (Laps 1 – 21); Billy Ogle Jr. (Laps 22 – 38); Scott Bloomquist (Laps 39 – 46); Billy Ogle Jr. (Laps 47 – 50)
Caution Flags: none
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Provisional: Ray Cook
Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Emergency Provisional: none
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time Provisional: Brett Miller
Optima Batteries Hard Charger of the Race: Ray Cook (Started 23rd; Finished 11th; Advanced 12 positions)
Allstar Performer of the Race: Billy Ogle Jr.
Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Jimmy Owens
ASi Racewear Challenge Finisher: Don O’Neal
Quarter Master Rookie of the Race: Jonathan Davenport
COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Race: Roush Yates Racing Engines
Ohlins Shocks Chassis Builder of the Race: Rocket Chassis
Sweet Mfg Crew Chief of the Race: BJ Hillman (Billy Ogle Jr.)
Time of Race: 11 minutes 36 seconds

Red Buck Cigars Fast Time Group A: Scott Bloomquist / 12.182 seconds
Red Buck Cigars Fast Time Group B: Billy Ogle Jr. / 12.225 seconds

Wiles Driveshafts First Heat (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer): Scott Bloomquist, Tyler Reddick, Casey Roberts, Eric Wells, Chad Ogle, Trevor Bayne, Mark Douglas, Ryan King, Eric Jacobsen

U. S. Steel Second Heat (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer): Chris Madden, Vic Hill, Dale McDowell, Ty Dillon, Jeff Maupin, Jeff Wolfenbarger, Jeff Neubert, Jason Welshan

Simpson Performance Products Third Heat (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer): Billy Ogle Jr., Brad Neat, John Blankenship, Jared Landers, Steve Francis, Mark Vineyard, Josh Henry, Jonathan Davenport, Ray Cook

HAWK Brakes Fourth Heat (10 Laps – Top 4 Transfer): Earl Pearson, Jr., Don O’Neal, Jimmy Owens, Tommy Kerr, Brett Miller, David Watts, Steve Smith, D.J. Wells, Heath Alvey

JRi Shocks First B-Main (12 Laps – Top 3 Transfer): Chad Ogle, Mark Douglas, Jeff Maupin, Jeff Wolfenbarger, Jeff Neubert, Ryan King, Trevor Bayne, Jason Welshan-DNS, Eric Jacobsen-DNS

PAC Racing Springs Second B-Main (12 Laps – Top 3 Transfer): Steve Francis, Jonathan Davenport, Mark Vineyard, Brett Miller, D.J. Wells, Ray Cook, Josh Henry, Steve Smith, David Watts, Heath Alvey-DNS

MODIFIED HOBBY “HAVOC 25”

1) Shannon Emery #69; 2) Jamie Whitt #1; 3) Jon Cook #0z; 4) Charlie Bates #27; 5) Jason Long #15; 6) Kimberly Allen #15; 7) Austin Atkins #14; 8) Landon Williams #25w; 9) Dale Reed #52; 10) Dennis Metcalf #55; 11) Jesse Wilder #79; 12) Chuck Kilian #96; 13) Ray Jarnigan #77; 14) Mike Kelly #8; 15) Terry Dean #47; 16) Tyler Smith #32; 17) Kaleb Trent #2; 18) Robbie Woods #2; 19) Mike Mays #30 – Did Not Start: Larry Morgan #7